U.S. patent application number 14/948391 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-17 for signal transmission connector.
The applicant listed for this patent is NEXTRONICS ENGINEERING CORP.. Invention is credited to HUNG-WEI HSU, HOU-AN SU, HUAI-SHENG WANG, CHANG-FA YANG.
Application Number | 20160079709 14/948391 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55455714 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160079709 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SU; HOU-AN ; et al. |
March 17, 2016 |
SIGNAL TRANSMISSION CONNECTOR
Abstract
A signal transmission connector includes an insulating body, a
plurality of first terminals, a plurality of second terminals, and
a rear casing. The insulating body has a dielectric constant of
about 3 to 3.4. The first and second terminals are disposed on the
insulating body. The first and second terminals have widths of
about 0.36 to 0.42 mm. The rear casing is assembled at the second
end of the insulating body. The rear casing envelops the first and
the second terminals. The rear casing has a dielectric constant of
about 3.5 to 3.8. The connector provides adjustable impedance
without modifications to the terminal structures and also reduces
cost.
Inventors: |
SU; HOU-AN; (KEELUNG CITY,
TW) ; HSU; HUNG-WEI; (TAIPEI CITY, TW) ; YANG;
CHANG-FA; (TAIPEI CITY, TW) ; WANG; HUAI-SHENG;
(TAICHUNG CITY, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NEXTRONICS ENGINEERING CORP. |
NEW TAIPEI CITY |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
55455714 |
Appl. No.: |
14/948391 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14158810 |
Jan 18, 2014 |
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14948391 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
439/660 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/506 20130101;
H01R 12/721 20130101; H01R 13/6477 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/6473 20060101
H01R013/6473; H01R 13/6461 20060101 H01R013/6461 |
Claims
1. A signal transmission connector, comprising: an insulating body
having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the
first end and the second end having a plurality of sidewalls
arranged therebetween, the insulating body having a docking slot
and a plurality of terminal slots, the sidewalls cooperatively
defining the docking slot, the docking slot in air communication
with the first end, the terminal slots arranged above and below the
docking slot, and the insulating body having a dielectric constant
substantially equal to 3.1; a plurality of first terminals disposed
on the insulating body, the first terminals arranged in the
terminal slots, each of the first terminals having an end extended
in the docking slot of the insulating body, each of the first
terminals having another end extended out of the insulating body,
each of the first terminals having a width substantially equal to
0.38 mm; a plurality of second terminals disposed on the insulating
body, the second terminals arranged in the terminal slots, each of
the second terminals having an end extended in the docking slot of
the insulating body, each of the second terminals having another
end extended out of the insulating body, each of the second
terminals having a width substantially equal to 0.38 mm; and a rear
casing disposed at the second end of the insulating body, the rear
casing disposed on the first terminal and the second terminal, the
rear casing having a dielectric constant substantially equal to
3.6, and the dielectric constant of the rear casing is greater than
the dielectric constant of the insulating body; wherein the
terminal slots extend to the first end and the second end, each
terminal slot has a front portion in air communication with the
first end, the front portions have tapered cross-sections, each of
the first terminals and the second terminals respectively has a
contact portion arranged in each front portion; wherein each front
portion having a width at upper portion and a width at lower
portion thereof, and the width at upper portion is different from
the width at lower portion thereof; wherein the width at upper
portion of each front portion is substantially equal to a width of
each contact portion, whereas the width at lower portion of each
front portion is greater than the width of each contact
portion.
2. The signal transmission connector as recited in claim 1, wherein
each terminal slot has a rear portion in air communication with the
second end, the rear portions having tapered cross-sections, the
first terminals and the second terminals respectively has a fixing
portion arranged in each rear portion, and each contact portion is
connected to an end of each fixing portion.
3. The signal transmission connector as recited in claim 1, wherein
the first terminals and the second terminals are arranged apart by
a gap of about 0.8 mm.
4. The signal transmission connector as recited in claim 1, wherein
the rear casing is coupled to the insulating body.
5. The signal transmission connector as recited in claim 4, wherein
the insulating body has two first coupling portions arranged
thereon, the rear casing has two second coupling portions arranged
thereon, and the two first coupling portions are correspondingly
mated to the two second coupling portions.
6. The signal transmission connector as recited in claim 1, wherein
the rear casing has a plurality of receiving slots arranged on a
surface of the rear casing oriented toward the second end of the
insulating body, and the first terminals are arranged in the
receiving slot.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of application
Ser. No. 14/158,810 filed Jan. 18, 2014, now pending, and entitled
Signal Transmission Connector.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The instant disclosure relates to a signal transmission
connector; in particular, to a signal transmission connector for
small form-factor pluggables (SFP).
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Conventional transceiver modules typically apply to connect
circuit board for communication lines and other electrical modules
and equipment. Various industrial standards define computer and
external communication equipment such as modems, network interfaces
or other connector types having different transceiver module
interfaces. Gigabit interface converter (GBIC) is a computer with
Ethernet, fiber optic channels, or other data transceiver modules
capable of data communication.
[0006] In order to improve port density between network devices
(such as switches, cables, patch panels, wiring boxes, computer
input/output ports, etc.), miniaturization of transceiver modules
are often applied. Small form-factor pluggable (SFP) modules are
suitable for such miniaturization. Specifically, the SFP module is
only half the volume of the GFIC transceiver module, thus providing
communication systems with higher density.
[0007] High-speed data transmission systems require connectors that
can control impedance to maintain the necessary data transmission
rate at which the electrical system needs. China patent publication
no. CN 202159785U discloses a "differential coupling connector"
having a pair of terminals adapted to provide differential signals.
Ground terminal is disposed opposite to the differential pair. The
main body of the differential pair is arranged such that the
differential pair is closer to one another, and the gap of the main
body is reduced between the differential pair such that crosstalk
is reduced and data transmission is enhanced. If the gap between
terminals of the differential coupling connector is modified, the
terminal structures are also affected such that substantial
modifications to the terminal moldings are required, and in turn
costs are substantially increased.
[0008] To address the above issues, the inventor strives via
associated experience and research to present the instant
disclosure, which can effectively improve the limitation described
above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The object of the instant disclosure is to provide an
adjustable impedance of the signal transmission connector terminal
structure without modification thereof while providing simple
structure, the easy of manufacturing, and cost reduction.
[0010] In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, according to
an embodiment of the instant disclosure, a signal transmission
connector includes: an insulating body having a first end and a
second end opposite the first end, a plurality of first terminals,
a plurality of second terminals and a rear casing. The first end
and the second end have a plurality of sidewalls arranged
therebetween. The insulating body has a docking slot and a
plurality of terminal slots, the sidewalls cooperatively define the
docking slot, the docking slot is in air communication with the
first end, the terminal slots are arranged above and below the
docking slot, and the insulating body has a dielectric constant
substantially from 3 to 3.4. The plurality of first terminals is
disposed in the insulating body, the first terminals are disposed
in the terminal slots, each of the first terminals has an end
extended in the docking slot of the insulating body, each of the
first terminals has another end extended out of the insulating
body, and each of the first terminals has a width substantially
from 0.36 to 0.42 mm. The plurality of second terminals is disposed
in the insulating body, the second terminals are disposed in the
terminal slots, each of the second terminals has an end extended in
the docking slot of the insulating body, each of the second
terminals has another end extended out of the insulating body, and
each of the second terminals has a width substantially from 0.36 to
0.42 mm. The rear casing is disposed on the second end of the
insulating body, the rear casing is disposed on the first terminal
and the second terminal, and the rear casing has a dielectric
constant substantially from 3.5 to 3.8.
[0011] Preferably, the terminal slots extend to the first end and
the second end, each terminal slot has a front portion in air
communication with the first end, the front portions have tapered
cross-sections, the first terminals and the second terminals are
arranged in the front portions. Each terminal slot also has a rear
portion in air communication with the second end, the rear portions
have tapered cross-sections, the first terminals and the second
terminals are arranged in the rear portions.
[0012] Preferably, the insulating body has a dielectric constant of
3.1, and the rear casing has a dielectric constant of 3.6.
[0013] Preferably, each of the first terminals and each of the
second terminals have a width of about 0.38 mm.
[0014] The instant disclosure improves upon the following:
[0015] The most preferred widths of the first and the second
terminals range from 0.36 to 0.42 mm, the dielectric constant of
the insulating body ranges from 3 to 3.4, and the dielectric
constant of the rear cover ranges from 3.5 to 3.8. The rear casing
and the body have different dielectric constants. The rear casing
can be the most preferably matched such that differential signal of
the connector has the most preferred impedance, crosstalk is
reduced, and in turn increases data transfer rate. Furthermore, the
terminal structures of the instant disclosure need not vary to
provide adjustable impedance. The terminals have simple structures,
provide ease of manufacturing, and reduce production cost.
[0016] The front portions of the terminal slots have tapered
cross-sections. The first terminals and the second terminals are
disposed in and can be adjusted with respect to the front portions
of the terminal slots in order to adjust impedance.
[0017] The rear portions of the terminal slots have tapered
cross-sections. The first terminals and the second terminals are
disposed in and can be adjusted with respect to the rear portions
of the terminal slots in order to adjust impedance.
[0018] Impedance matching is maintained by adjusting the shape of
the plastic slots, dielectric constants and the preferred terminal
widths to modify corresponding inductance and capacitance, such
that stability of signal transmission at the terminals is
maintained. The pitch further emphasizes the control of
impedance.
[0019] In order to further understand the instant disclosure, the
following embodiments and illustrations are provided. However, the
detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the
disclosure, rather than limiting the scope being defined by the
appended claims and equivalents thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a signal transmission
connector in accordance with the instant disclosure;
[0021] FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the signal transmission
connector in accordance with the instant disclosure; and
[0022] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the signal transmission
connector in accordance with the instant disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a front view of an insulating body in accordance
with the instant disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 4A is a close-up view of an insulating body of FIG. 4
in accordance with the instant disclosure; and
[0025] FIG. 5 is a rear view of an insulating body in accordance
with the instant disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 3. The instant disclosure
provides a signal transmission connector, specifically, a small
detachable module connector compatible with small form-factor
pluggable standards. The signal transmission connector includes an
insulating body 1 (the body 1), a plurality of first terminals 2, a
plurality of second terminals 3, and a rear casing 4.
[0027] The body 1 is made of insulating materials (such as
plastics). The body 1 has a first end 11 and the second end 12
opposite to the first end 11. The first end 11 and the second end
12 have four sidewalls 13 connected therebetween. The four
sidewalls 13 are respectively defined as the top side, the bottom
side, the left side, and the right side of the insulating body 1.
Top, bottom, left, and right are terms serving only as reference
orientations in the embodiments of the instant disclosure, but do
not limit the scope of the instant disclosure to the orientation of
the sidewalls provided by the examples herein. The insulating body
1 has a docking slot 14 and a plurality of terminal slots 15. The
docking slot 14 is formed between the sidewalls 13. The docking
slot 14 resembles substantially to the shape of a rectangle. The
docking slot 14 is in air communication with the first end 11. The
docking slot 14 can be mated to match connectors.
[0028] The terminal slots 15 are arranged at the two oppositely
faced top side and bottom side of two sidewalls 13. In other words,
the terminal slots 15 are arranged above and below the docking slot
14 for assembling with the first terminals 2 and the second
terminals 3. The terminal slots 15 above the docking slot 14 can
align with or offset from the terminal slots 15 below the docking
slot 14. Portions of the terminal slots 15 above the docking slot
14 can align with or offset from portions of the terminal slots 15
below the docking slot 14. The terminal slots 15 above the docking
slot 14 are offset from the terminal slots 15 below the docking
slot 14 in the instant embodiment.
[0029] The terminal slots 15 can extend to the first end 11 and the
second end 12. In other words, two ends of the terminal slots 15
can be formed through the first end 11 and the second end 12. Each
of the terminal slots 15 has a front portion 151 and a rear portion
152. The front portion 151 is arranged in immediate proximity to
the first end 11, and the rear portion 152 is arranged in immediate
proximity to the second end 12. The body 1 can also have a
pre-determined number of fixing post or posts 17 protruding from a
bottom portion of the body 1 for docking to the corresponding
fixing groove or grooves (not shown in the figures) of a circuit
board such that the connector is securely fixed on the circuit
board.
[0030] The first terminals 2 and the second terminals 3 are made of
metallic materials or metal alloys having good or preferred
electrical conductivity. The first and second terminals 2, 3 are
compatible with small form-factor pluggable (SPF) standards. Each
of the first and second terminals 2, 3 can respectively have a
fixing portion 21, 31, a contact portion 22, 32, and a soldering
portion 23, 33. In the instant embodiment, the fixing portions 21,
31 resemble horizontally arranged plates, the contact portions 22,
32 are bent to resemble elastic sheets, whereas the soldering
portions 23, 33 resemble L-shaped plate bodies. Moreover, the
contact portions 22, 32 are respectively connected to an end of the
fixing portions 21, 31 whereas the soldering portions 23, 33 are
respectively connected to the other end of the fixing portions 21,
31. The shapes of first terminals 2 and the second terminals 3 are
not limited to the example provided herein and may vary according
to preferences.
[0031] The first and second terminals 2, 3 are arranged on the
insulating body 1. The first and second terminals 2, 3 can be
inserted into the body 1 such that the first and second terminals
2, 3 are received in the terminal slots 15. The first and second
terminals 2, 3 are arranged as two oppositely faced upper and lower
rows, in which the second terminals 3 are arranged below the first
terminals 2. The first terminals 2 and the second terminals 3 can
be fixed to the insulating body 1 via the fixing portions 21, 31.
The fixing portions 21, 31 are fixed to the body 1 via physical
connection. One end of each of the first and second terminals 2, 3
(the contact portions 22, 32) extends into the docking slot 14 of
the body 1, and can be in contact with a matching connector that is
plugged into the docking slot 14 to establish electrical connection
therebetween. The other end of each of the first and second
terminals 2, 3 (the soldering portions 23, 33) extends out of the
insulating body 1 for abutting or soldering to the circuit board
such that the connector of the instant disclosure can be in
electrical connection with the circuit board.
[0032] The front portions 151 and the rear portions 152 have
tapered cross-sections (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). In other words,
the front portions 151 and the rear portions 152 have different
widths. Specifically, each front portion 151 has a width W3 at
upper portion and a width W4 at lower portion thereof (as shown in
FIG. 4A), and the width W3 at upper portion is different from the
width W4 at lower portion thereof. Moreover, the width W3 at upper
portion of each front portion 151 is substantially equal to the
width of each contact portion 22, 32, whereas the width W4 at lower
portion of each front portion 151 is greater than the width of each
contact portion 22, 32, such that the air gaps (the dielectric
constant of air is equal to 1) can be provided between each front
portion 151 and each the contact portions 22, 32 for impedance
matching. Similarly, the widths of the rear portions 152 at upper
portions thereof are different from the widths of the rear portions
152 at lower portions thereof.
[0033] The first and second terminals 2, 3 are adjustable near the
front portions 151 and rear portions 152 of the terminal slots 15
according to preferences. The tapered cross-sections of the front
and rear portions 151, 152 can provide adjustments for the first
and second terminals 2, 3 such that the first and second terminals
2, 3 can be guided into the contact area of the body 1. For
example, the first and second terminals 2, 3 can be arranged distal
to the front portions 151 of the terminal slots 15 to reduce the
contact area between the first and second terminals 2, 3 and the
insulating body 1, such that impedance increases. Alternatively,
the first and second terminals 2, 3 can be arranged in close
proximity with the front portions 151 of the terminal slots 15 to
increase the contact area between the first and second terminals 2,
3 and the insulating body 1, such that impedance reduces. In turn,
the connector can adjust specific impedance. The tapered
cross-sectioned terminal slots 15 of the instant disclosure and
vertically grooved terminal slots 15 can be made to adapt to the
variance in capacitance and inductance of the widths of terminals
2, 3.
[0034] The first and second terminals 2, 3 respectively have widths
W1, W2. The widths of the first and second terminals 2, 3 are about
0.36 to 0.42 mm, with 0.38 mm as the preferred width. In the
instant embodiment, the widths W1, W2 of the first and second
terminals 2, 3 are defined as the widths of the upright portion
(such as in FIG. 1). The first and second terminals 2, 3 are
arranged with a 0.8 mm gap therebetween. In other words, between
every two first terminals 2 or two second terminals 3, there is a
pitch of 0.8 mm.
[0035] The rear casing 4 is made of insulating materials (such as
plastics). The length and height of the rear casing 4 substantially
corresponds to that of the insulating body 1. The rear casing 4 and
the body 1 are made of different materials and different grades of
materials. In the instant embodiment, the insulating body 1 and the
rear casing 4 are made of different grades of liquid crystal
polyester (LCP), such that the body 1 and the rear casing 5 have
different dielectric constant and can also increase the dielectric
constant of the rear casing 4. The dielectric constant of the
insulating body 1 ranges from 3 to 3.4 with a preferred constant at
3.1, whereas the dielectric constant of the rear casing 4 ranges
from 3.5 to 3.8 with a preferred constant of 3.6. Moreover, the
dielectric constant of the rear casing 4 is greater than the
dielectric constant of the insulating body 1 for the most preferred
impedance.
[0036] The rear casing 4 is assembled at the second end 12 of the
body 1. The rear casing 4 can overlay the first and the second
terminals 2, 3. In other words, the rear casing 4 can cover
portions of the first and the second terminals 2, 3 protruding out
of the insulating body 1, such that the first and the second
terminals 2, 3 are substantially enveloped. The body 1 has two
first coupling portions 16 arranged thereon. The first coupling
portion 16 can be a coupling slot or a coupling protrusion. The
rear casing 4 has two second coupling portions 41 arranged thereon.
The second coupling portion 41 can be a coupling slot or a coupling
protrusion. The first coupling portion 16 and the second coupling
portion 41 are coupled to one another. For example, the rear casing
4 of the instant embodiment is coupled to the insulating body 1 via
snapping, such that the rear casing 4 is assembled to the second
end 12 of the body 1. The rear casing 4 can also be assembled to
the body 1 by physical abutment or adhesives, but not limited to
the examples provided herein. Moreover, the rear casing 4 has a
plurality of receiving slots 42 arranged on a surface thereof
proximate to the second end 12 of the body 1. The receiving slots
42 are spaced at pre-determined intervals. The first terminals 2
can be received in the receiving slots 42.
[0037] The most preferred widths of the first and the second
terminals 2, 3 range from 0.36 to 0.42 mm, the dielectric constant
of the insulating body 1 ranges from 3 to 3.4, and the dielectric
constant of the rear cover 4 ranges from 3.5 to 3.8. The rear
casing 4 and the body 1 have different dielectric constants.
Moreover, the dielectric constant of the rear casing 4 is greater
than the dielectric constant of the insulating body 1 for the most
preferred impedance. The rear casing 4 can be the most preferably
matched such that differential signal of the connector has the most
preferred impedance, crosstalk is reduced, and in turn data
transmission rate increases. In the instant embodiment, time-domain
reflectometer (TDR) is applied for testing suitable or the
preferred impedance, 100.+-.10.OMEGA.. Furthermore, the terminal
structures of the instant disclosure need not vary to provide
adjustable impedance. The terminals have simple structures, provide
ease of manufacturing, and reduce production cost. Moreover,
impedance matching is maintained by adjusting the shape of the
plastic slots, dielectric constants and the preferred terminal
widths to modify corresponding inductance and capacitance, such
that signal transmission stability at the terminals is maintained.
The pitch further emphasizes the control of impedance.
[0038] The figures and descriptions supra set forth illustrated the
preferred embodiments of the instant disclosure; however, the
characteristics of the instant disclosure are by no means
restricted thereto. All changes, alternations, combinations or
modifications conveniently considered by those skilled in the art
are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the instant
disclosure delineated by the following claims.
* * * * *